Themes

Cooperation activities are not mandatory in the Polish EMFF programme, but FLAGs are encouraged to undertake them. Cooperation is considered as a good way to facilitate learning by FLAGs and to contribute to achieving their strategic objectives, which strongly prioritise job creation, both within and outside the fisheries sector. In the previous period many Polish FLAGs already proved eager to learn from FLAGs in other Member States and to share their experience with them.

FLAG cooperation in Finland’s EMFF programme is considered to be a way of bringing new ideas and innovations to the country in order to address some specific challenges. In particular, cooperation is sought to increase the profitability of small-scale coastal fisheries and make the sector attractive as a career for young people, as well as combatting the issues posed by seals and cormorants in fishing communities. However, cooperation is not limited and other ideas and networking can be developed among the FLAGs.

Cooperation is strongly encouraged by the programme authorities in France and FLAGs were required to lay out their plans for cooperation within their local development strategies in their bid to gain EMFF funding. In some cases, cooperation is viewed as a transversal tool to strengthen the impact of all areas of FLAG work and, in other cases, cooperation is programmed as an area of work in its own right with specific objectives.

The fishing organisation of Bustio has become the first in Spain to become self-sufficient in renewable energy for its on land operations. By making an environmental commitment to reduce carbon emissions, it is saving around €10 000 a year on electricity.

By engaging local fishermen in the development and testing of environmentally-friendly fish traps, the Baltic Sea FLAG is paving the way for sustainable fisheries along its coast in a wider context of adding value to the local catch.

The Venetian FLAG is looking for partners in the context of INTERREG Alpine Space. Their project idea aims to protect the environment by reducing the amount of plastic that reaches the sea from rivers upstream.